The Stropharia rugoso species of mushroom ushers in its harvest season in Zhangdan township, Qingtian county in Lishui, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

Harvest season for the Stropharia rugoso species of mushroom is currently in full swing in Zhangdan township, Qingtian county in Lishui, Zhejiang province. The cultivation base is bustling with activity as farmers are busy picking the plump and vibrant reddish-brown mushrooms.

Zhang Haidi, head of the Nanhong husbandry and cultivation cooperative in Qingtian, shared that he has planted 8,000 square meters of Stropharia rugoso, with a yield of over 72,000 kilograms. The picking season lasts from November to May of the following year.

With support from the local government, he has established cooperations with several local hotels and canteens. "Normally, the profit is around 2 yuan (28 cents) per kg. With a total output of more than 60,000 kg a year, the income can reach over 100,000 yuan," said Zhang.

Zhang's success has not only brought personal prosperity but also provided jobs for the locals in Xindan village in Zhangdan township. "Every year from November, I come to help," Zhu Shaoxian, a villager in Xindan, said, "I can pick 140 to 160 kg a day and sometimes even over 200 kg."

In recent years, Zhangdan has introduced the cultivation of edible mushrooms. Going forward, the township aims to further refine cultivation techniques and expand cultivation to all its villages. It also plans to develop an agricultural complex that integrates breeding, leisure, tourism, and healthcare, to promote rural revitalization and sustainable development.